Extending OpenMC Validation to Spent Fuel Canisters: A Criticality Benchmark Against MCNP

Abstract

OpenMC is an open-source Monte Carlo code with increasing relevance in criticality safety and reactor physics applications. While its validation has covered a broad range of systems, its performance in spent nuclear fuel storage scenarios remains limited in the literature. This work benchmarks OpenMC against MCNP for eleven configurations based on the KBS-3 disposal concept, involving variations in geometry, fuel composition (fresh vs spent), and environmental conditions (e.g., air, argon, flooding scenarios). Effective multiplication factors (k-eff) and leakage fractions were evaluated for both codes. Results show strong agreement, with code-to-code k-eff differences below 0.8% in dry storage conditions, and consistent trends across all cases. Notably, OpenMC successfully captures inter-canister neutron interaction effects under periodic boundary conditions, demonstrating its applicability to dry storage configurations. This benchmark supports the extension of the validation domain of OpenMC toward SNF transport and disposal applications.